We received reports on Friday that Adam McKay (Anchorman, Step Brothers, The Other Guys), Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball, We're the Millers) and Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Gangster Squad) were the frontrunners to take over the director's chair for Marvel's Ant-Man from Edgar Wright. Now Ain't It Cool News has learned that Marvel Studios has made an offer to McKay and that he is talks to take the job. We should get official confirmation soon, as Marvel wants to keep the project on schedule for a July 17, 2015 release.

McKay worked together with Ant-Man star Paul Rudd on the "Anchorman" films. Also starring in the Marvel film are Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Patrick Wilson and Corey Stoll.

Ant-Man follows a biochemist Dr. Hank Pym using his latest discovery, a group of subatomic particles, to create a size-altering formula. Though his first self-test goes awry, he develops an instrument that helps him communicate with and control insects. Paul Rudd will play Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Michael Douglas stars as Hank Pym.

UPDATE: Well, this isn't good. Adam McKay was said to be in advanced talks last night, but now The Hollywood Reporter says he has pulled out of the negotiations. The decision is said to be his alone. Will Marvel now go with either Rawson Marshall Thurber or Ruben Fleischer?

2nd UPDATE: Director McKay, who posts to Twitter as @ghostpanther, made a statement about the situation which you can read below:

And yes, met w/Marvel. Kirby & Lee r my Lennon Mccartney so it was awesome. But have other projects I'm committed to. Not sure it can work.